1 Soul Bound
1.2 Taking Control
1.2.2 An Awakening Epiphany
1.2.2.32 Concerning god, that he exists
Arcadian Sea, 10 kilometers East of Torello
8 bells of the dog watch, Morday wax, 3rd day of the month of KrevinBelember, A2F1600
It was late in the day when she found herself in a small fishing boat with Vittoria, only the peak of the Alto visible in the distance. The wind was up and tall waves loomed over them, dark and angry. Vittoria was wearing simple clothes and looked cold and miserable, huddled in her seat.
Vittoria: “Spirit-Kafana, is that you?”
Kafana gave her a reassuring smile.
Kafana: “Yes. Have you worked out what you are not willing to give up? We’ve got time to discuss it before I put my stole on and try to contact Mor for you.”
Vittoria: “Yes. I won’t make a deal that prevents me living happily with Lelio. So not my life, health or sanity. I don’t want to abandon Isabella and the orphans, but I’ll give up my magic, or anything else I have.”
Vittoria added, hesitantly: “Do you think that will be enough?”
Kafana: “Honestly? I don’t know. Mor is the deity of the sea, very strong but also quite flexible. He’s also creative and the deity of traders. Appeals to his emotions or fairness may not work, but I think he’d prefer something that benefits him, to just punishing an oath-breaker, as long as he thinks you’ve learned your lesson. Do you have the item with you that gave you water attunement?”
Vittoria handed her a lump smoothed by years of handling that might be a rock, or possibly a very dense bone. On one flattish side were two linked circles burnt into it, like a brand. She studied it with her mage sight, but it was unlike anything she’d seen before. It didn’t contain much mana, but the bits it did contain were woven together, almost like Celtic knotwork, with no start or end. She handed it back.
Kafana: “What does it do?”
Vittoria: “I have no idea. But it is the only clue I have to who or what my parents were. I didn’t even realise it altered my attunement, as I’m never without it.”
The boat dipped low into a trough, leaving the glow from her skin illuminating it like a giant cup. What had that post said about attunements? The more moist the area, the better the link to Mor, and something about territories and borders? She’d arranged for this boat because being out on the sea seemed more respectful to Mor than trying to contact him from land, but maybe she could take it one step further.
Kafana: “Are you ready? Do you want a buff to your courage or calmness? This is likely to get scary, and it certainly isn’t without risks.”
Vittoria braced herself and slowly stood up, fists clenched.
Vittoria: “I’m petrified. But no, let me stand before Mor as I am, let him judge me for who I really am. Whether this works or fails, whether I live or die, you have my gratitude and should never blame yourself. Once he pays attention, it is up to me.”
Kafana felt the new webbing beneath her clothes, holding the gems against her skin. It felt strange, and a bit annoying, but she couldn’t let it distract her. She took out her Guardian’s Pendant with one hand and concentrated upon the ring on the finger of her other hand. She willed the waves to rise up higher and the boat to descend lower, then heard a gasp from Vittoria as the whole boat became encased in a bubble 30 meters across and plunged downwards into the dark.
She stopped the descent when the only light was coming from her and placed the blue ceremonial stole about her shoulders. She could feel the dolphins swimming above, and reached out to them as she started singing Amhrán Na Farraige, the ancient Celtic song of the sea.
By the second verse the dolphins had joined in her harmony, their cries carrying through the water. Larger deeper voices heard, and she brought them in too. As she neared the end of the song, the whole sea was reverberating with the chorus, the walls of the bubble vibrating, and she used the combined mind to send out one unified mental shout:
Stolen story; please report.
= Mor! =
She felt a chuckle.
Mor: = Kafana, I’m not a deaf old man. My hearing is really quite good. Just direct your thoughts towards me. =
Kafana: = *rueful feeling* is this better? =
Mor: = That’s fine. Now, what did you want, little one? =
Kafana: = I bring to your attention an opportunity for an advantageous trade. Before you stands the penniless orphan Vittoria, who suffers under your displeasure for breaking her word while bearing an item that grants her additional attunement to water. =
Mor: = I see her, and no doubt she seeks my forgiveness. But wherein lies the advantage to me and mine in granting it? If she is penniless and without relatives, how can she compensate me enough that others won’t be encouraged to also break oaths? =
Kafana: = Far be it for me to try to bargain with the master trader. I am merely here to help with communication, not to speak on her behalf. But if I didn’t see some potential for you to profit, it would have been a waste of your time to offer even that, and I adore the sea with its wealth of creative possibilities far too much to do that. =
Mor: = *interest* =
Kafana: = As I see it, the key to her nature is love. Those who love are often loved in return. She was coerced into giving her word, and broke it out of love, not knowing that the item she carried boosted her water attunement. But though she is an orphan, she has worked hard to become a priestess, and is now loved and relied upon by Isabella, the guardian of Cov in Torello, and the orphans in the orphanage she now runs. It seems to me that a deity who won her gratitude and loyalty would be repaid many times over by having a popular priestess praising his name and teaching her charges to do likewise. Indeed, in a port full of sailors and merchants, a priestess advocating Mor’s values might find many ears ready to listen. =
Mor: = I see. *approval* =
She didn’t just feel his approval in her head. The surrounding cetaceans let out a sonic barrage that put fog horns to shame. Vittoria’s face went white and the blood drained from it.
Kafana: = Is there anything you would like me to do to help you converse with her, like lend you my body to speak through, or should I leave it to you from here? I’m sorry, I’m very new at this, I don’t mean to overstep myself. =
Mor: = *laughter* Relax. You just sit back and watch an old trader at work. =
Part of the bubble bent inwards and smoothly formed itself into a muscular male figure composed of dark blue water, 5 meters tall, bearing a trident. It had curly hair and a beard, which on closer inspection appeared to be eddies in a turbulent stream. The face started off looking stern and imperious, but Kafana could see a faint twitch at the corner of the mouth indicating Mor had a sense of humour and drama.
The next 15 minutes were a master class in bargaining. He started off with her terrified, listened impartially and let her plead and win him over, conceding points and building up her confidence. He slowly made his water figure seem more human and approachable, as he had her tell him about the sea and what she could do to spread worship of him. By the time he brought in dolphins to let her stroke them, she was figuratively eating out of the palm of his hand. They chatted like old friends while she enthused about her plans. To seal the deal, he had touched her pendant with the tip of his trident, adding a blue glow to its already golden colour. A dolphin deposited a seaweed covered golden necklace on the floor of the boat with the tip of its nose and Mor’s last words to Vittoria were “a donation for the orphans” as his figure dissolved back into the sea and the bubble rose.
They broke the surface as the setting sun touched the horizon, a fire of orange and scarlet streaking the sky, and headed back towards Torello at high speed on the back of a single towering wave that threatened to break but never did.
She used her mage sight to look at Vittoria. The baleful dagger above her head was gone.
[Lovebirds sub-quest “Remove Vittoria’s Curse” completed.]
[Skill “Forgiveness” has reached level 3.]
[Skill “Blessing” has reached level 2.]
[Skill “Holy Prayer” has reached level 13.]
[Skill “Ceremony” has reached level 11.]
[Skill “Bargaining” has reached level 7.]
[Skill “A way with words” has reached level 2.]
[Level gained. You are now level 36]
[Your skill “Priestess” cannot go above 14 until you reach character level 40.]
*ding* [Your party’s reputation with Vittoria has increased by 500.]
*ding* [Your reputation with Vittoria has increased by an additional 2000.]
On the way back she sang a slow rendition of the Hawaiian song, Wailana, to express her gratitude, and the dolphins surfing down the wave flipped their tails in appreciation.